Jose Feliciano, of Easton, sentenced to life in prison for killing N.J. priest - UPDATE

View full sizeStar-Ledger Photo | JERRY McCREAJose Feliciano, left; sits with Balin Baidwan, one of his public defenders, late last year in New Jersey Superior Court in Morristown during the guilty verdict in the killing of the Rev. Edward Hinds.

A former church janitor from Easton convicted of murdering a New Jersey priest

was sentenced to life in prison without parole this afternoon.

Jose Feliciano didn't deny stabbing the Rev. Edward Hinds to death in 2009 in the rectory of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Chatham.

But Feliciano was unable to persuade a jury he had killed Hinds in a fit of rage over sexual blackmail.

Prosecutors say Feliciano stabbed the priest more than 30 times after Hinds fired him. Investigators say Hinds had discovered Feliciano had an outstanding arrest warrant in Philadelphia from the 1980s for sexually touching a child.

Feliciano testified during the trial.

Several witnesses testified Feliciano never mentioned the alleged sexual relationship.

Feliciano was convicted in December of murder and other charges. He was sentenced today in state superior court in Morristown